A frontline socio-political group of Akwa Ibom elders and statesmen, Ibom Patriots, has reaffirmed it’s avowed support for Governor Udom Emmanuel and commitment to his reelection bid.
At a get-together event attended by eminent sons and daughters of Akwa Ibom in Uyo, the group formally received two of its members holding top political offices and inducted 32 new members and four patrons.
In his remarks, Governor Udom Emmanuel expressed delight over the gathering of the patriots under one umbrella, IBOM PATRIOTS and charged them to work towards becoming a strong voice that will be reckoned with in the country.
Governor Emmanuel commended the patriots for endorsing him for a second term and assured that he will continue to work hard and improve the material, economic, physical and psychological circumstances of the people.
He spoke of the efforts by his administration to ensure industrialization, improved power supply, adequate security, quality education, road infrastructure and promised to take the endorsement seriously.
The Governor announced that he had approved the employment of 1500 teachers in specific areas and added that Akwa Ibom will always insist on true federalism in the country, urging the group to also channel their support in that regard.
Governor Emmanuel reminded the people of the job at hand, saying “We shall finish the job with courage, faith and abiding believe in our greatness. We shall show no fear, we will not be deterred nor distracted by the presence of a tiny and fast depleting class of nay sayers.”
Speaking earlier, the Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, who was inducted as a patron alongside former Deputy Governor, Ambassador Etim Okpoyo, Senator Anietie Okon and Senator Helen Esuene, noted that the Patriots came into existence to ensure that the good things that were happening to the state through the leadership of Governor Emmanuel continues into the future.
He reiterated that the Governor was destined to come at the time he came and to stay through 2023 when Akwa Ibom would have been at the zenith and charged those in support of the Governor’s reelection to register with the electoral umpire for voter’s card in order to be eligible to vote.
The Deputy Governor appealed to the people, especially the 2015 political gladiators, to take advantage of the politics of inclusiveness provided by the Governor and return to the fold.
In his remarks earlier, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, while reacting to the reception for him and the new State Deputy Chairman of PDP, Chief Godwin Afangide, said that they were gratified to be so recognized by the Governor and promised to use their positions to move the frontiers of socio economic development forward.
Dr Ekuwem said that they were determined to make sure that most people are enabled to have something glorious to give back to the society and take young people off the streets.
Speaking further on their goal, the SSG said “It was to get all of us to move toward the land of fulfillment for the betterment of the lots of our people, for the greatness of our state, for the entire Akwa Ibom to remain the most developed and technologically advanced state in the country.”
Earlier, the Chancellor of Ibom Patriots, Obong Bassey Inuaeyen, had described the group as an assemblage of intellects and professionals from the broad spectrum of the society who came together to form a Pan-Akwa Ibom Think Tank for socio cultural, political cum economic progress and development of the state.
According to Obong Inuaeyen, “as we look back at that critical point of our state history, we can all say with pride that given the record of achievements and giant strides made by the Governor in the areas of political inclusiveness, industrialization, culture and Tourism, infrastructural consolidation, economic empowerment, power generation and supply, boost in agriculture and economic diversification among others, we are not only vindicated but satisfied that a right choice was made in 2015.”
He stated that with another term in office, a lot will be achieved for the benefit of the people and announced the endorsement of the Governor for reelection next year with a vow to mobilize support across the state for that purpose.
The Chancellor thanked the Governor, who is the Grand Patron of the organization, for the courage to embrace and mobilize intellects in the state to work with him and expressed optimism that such interface will enhance governance and speed up the process of development.
Members of the group who were on ground to receive the Governor and his entourage included it’s Deputy Chancellor, Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, Godwin Ntukudeh, Obong Kingsley Mbre, among others.